Stressing the Boundaries of Mobile Accessibility

Mobile devices gather the communication capabilities as no other gadget. Plus, they now comprise a wider set of applications while still maintaining reduced size and weight. They have started to include accessibility features that enable the inclusion of disabled people. However, these inclusive efforts still fall short considering the possibilities of such devices. This is mainly due to the lack of interoperability and extensibility of current mobile operating systems (OS). In this paper, we present a case study of a multi-impaired person where access to basic mobile applications was provided in an applicational basis. We outline the main flaws in current mobile OS and suggest how these could further empower developers to provide accessibility components. These could then be compounded to provide system-wide inclusion to a wider range of (multi)-impairments.Comment: 3 pages, two figures, ACM CHI 2013 Mobile Accessibility Worksho

Regional income convergence in Portugal (1991-2012)

Our research aims to address the problem of inequality in income distribution from a different perspective than the usual. We intend to verify if geography influences the pattern of inequality, that is, if the standard of living varies from region to region and if, in the process of growth, spatial units in Portugal have been converging in terms of most relevant variables, such as income. We search the answers to these questions by introducing the treatment of convergence between smaller territorial units, the municipalities as individuals. We intend to evaluate convergence or divergence in income growth and test empirically the theoretical hypothesis that β-convergence, although necessary, is not a sufficient condition for σ-convergence. To study convergence, we use information about GDP and wages for NUTS III regions, and wages for municipalities. We observe spatial dependence between municipalities, so we estimate spatial econometric models to test convergence. With regard to conditional convergence between municipalities, the model most appropriate is the one which includes in the explanatory variables the weight of primary sector employment, leading us to conclude that this variable distinguishes the "steady state" of the small economies. Variables like the activity rate and percentage of active population with higher education also reveal highly significant on the growth of wages, reflecting the different contexts of the labor market at regional level

Regional Income Distribution in Portugal

The structural evolution of the European economy has shown a real convergence between countries and divergence between regions (Mateus et al., 2000), so the economic and social cohesion, namely the approach of the various territories in terms of standard of living is assumed like a primary objective of economic policy. Concerns about inequality in income distribution have gained importance, encouraging the various studies that address specially inequality among individuals [see the studies of Rodrigues (1994, 1999 and 2008)]. Our research aims to address the problem of inequality in income distribution from a different perspective and we want to answer questions like if geography influences the pattern of inequality, or if the Portuguese’s standard of living depends on the place of residence, and finally, if the spatial units that make up the Portuguese territory have been converging in terms of income in the process of growth. The aim of this paper (which emerges from my PhD Thesis) is to study the regional income differences among the regions and municipalities of Portugal. Our individuals are the territorial units. We intend to evaluate convergence or divergence in income growth using a static analysis, with conventional measures and other indicators, being aware the regional differences in economic performance. To meet the objectives set out, after the introduction, we present some considerations concerning the recent developments in the Portuguese economy, from a regional perspective, which represent the framework of socio-economic conditions that can justify the results in terms of inequality and convergence between the territorial units. Then, after a brief literature review and an analysis of income distribution among municipalities and among the NUTS III of Portugal, we present some inequality measures applied to municipalities’ monthly average wage for the period 1991-2002. Finally, we conclude with a synthesis of results and possible future developments in the context of this work. We find a growing inequality between regional incomes over the period 1990-2006. In our view, the distribution of earnings reflects only the actual distribution of economic activity in Portugal, particularly concentrated in the coastal and metropolitan areas of Lisboa and Porto. The economic specialization and level of education among the population of each territorial unit are also, of course, crucial for this asymmetry on earnings

Understanding the Election Results in Portugal, A spatial econometrics point of view

The great majority of the theoretical analysis about electoral cycles has considered the national space as the territory of interest for the study of the economic consequences of an electoralist behaviour by the central government. This fact, in conjunction to the nature of the data most commonly available, has lead many authors to empirical studies which, by the use of more or less sophisticated econometric echniques, intend to verify the empirical evidence of electoral cycles whether in their political versions or in their partisan versions. Given that the election results for the main parties, at least for Portugal, clearly reflect some spatial localization we find rather intriguing to verify that so very few of those empirical studies use spatial econometrics techniques. This being said, the main objective of the paper is to analyse the results corresponding to the last legislative election that took place in Portugal, from the partisan viewpoint, by the use of well-known techniques of spatial econometrics. The confrontation of the results with the ones obtained ignoring the spatial localization of the data will lead us to the nature and extent of the improvement on the results obtained by spatial econometrics techniques in what concerns the detection of empirical evidence supporting the existence of a link between voters’ ideology and the election results obtained by the two main parties in Portugal

Can we Accurately Project MDG Indicators?

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are global, in the sense that they are to be reached by the whole world, not by countries individually. True commitment to MDGs has led many to ask the questions: will my country reach all or some of the MDG targets by 2015? Are we on track? (...)Can we Accurately Project MDG Indicators?

Alternatives for Projecting MDG Indicators

Although the Millennium Development Goals are global, in the sense that they are to be reached by the whole world, not necessarily by countries individually, in many countries the true commitment to them has led many to ask the question: will my country reach all or some of the MDGs by 2015? Are we on or off track? If off track, how far are we? To answer this question it is mandatory to perform some kind of projecting exercise. We talk of projections, not of forecasts, for there are many variables that can intervene to determine the performance of a country in its pursuit of the goals. Furthermore we have to deal with the fact that we cannot really predict what is going to happen up to 2015, but just make assumptions. However, projections can indeed be so accurate as to resemble forecasts. This is the case when there is plenty of data available, as well as technical expertise in projecting, and time. Unfortunately, this is seldom the case, particularly in developing countries. The common situation faced by those who ask the question on whether the MDGs will be reached by a certain country by 2015 is that of scarcity of data and/or of technical skills. (...)Alternatives for Projecting MDG Indicators

Has there been any Social Mobility for Non-Whites in Brazil?

.Poverty, Social Mobility, Non-Whites, Brazil